Review: Psychlona – Venus Skytrip

Psychlona turned some heads back in 2018 with their debut Mojo Rising and have been gigging away to build up a loyal following ever since. Returning again on Ripple Music and Cursed Tongue Records, the Bradford 4-piece have well and truly returned on another level with Venus Skytrip.

Blast Off starts trippy and space like with some astronaut dialogue in the distance and I’m thinking have they psyched out for this record, but no, the drum beat pulls the track up over the repetitive guitar line that moulds itself around the wall of fuzz that quickly follows. It’s not too fast and not too slow and just grooves along like the vehicle of your choice with a speed gauge that is getting pushed to the limit. I can see why people have made the Fu Manchu comparisons but I’m thinking more of the 90’s Swedish bands (Dozer, Lowrider etc.) in the way the song sounds like a variety of big heavy soundscapes.

I’m sure I heard 10,000 Volts being played last time I saw them live as I remember the song starting slow and moody with a load of early Sabbath doomy blues rock in there. It’s a definite slow burner that swings back and forth, making it a real head nodder. The last few minutes have the guitars taking control and walking you off into the night sky after throwing the listener a few wah-wah’s. 10,000 Volts is made for a dark festival venue full of drunken punters.

Blow has a bluesy swagger to it from the start and stomps along like The Sword with a bit of Clutch moulded into the background.

If you worship at the altar of Fu Manchu or Nebula, Star will be your stand out “go to” song on the album. From the opening riff to the first solo action, Psychlona work through the gears of their (insert your 70’s muscle car of choice here) and it doesn’t let up. Cutting through the big wall of fuzz after a couple of minutes is the introduction of some classic cow bell that kick starts even more epic soloing. Star ticks all the right boxes for the Stoner Rock party jam!

Edge of the Universe feels like the band are pushing their boundaries further with some darker doomier riffs, a big rumbling bassline and sliding guitar chords with a southern twist that warps the mind.

Resin is easily my favourite song on the album. Starting all laid back and trippy, the single drum track and bassline set the tone as the guitars float in and out to create an ambience before a wave of guitars crash over you. It does feel like they’ve managed to catch a point in time that reminds me of what Unida did with songs like You Wish and Last Day, when they let the instruments take the listener to a place somewhere between the end of the horizon and the beginning of space. Played live I can see Resin turning into a 20+ minute jam. The band have done a video for Resin that’s full of old 50’s and 60’s surfing clips and it all fits together really well with the music complementing the culture and vice versa.

Tijuana kicks the throttle back in again and feels like you’re on board the rocket that’s taking you on the Venus Skytrip, and The Owl takes you on a 9+ minute psychedelic doom jam that builds with a deep hypnotic riff that marches you through the dark red skies before floating away towards the light.

Psychlona will win over a lot of new fans with Venus Skytrip and when the pandemic subsides and gigs can actually happen again, I am looking forward to seeing them rock this out live.

I also have to mention the production quality of the mix and production done by Andy Hawkins and the cool psychedelic artwork done by Kyrre Bjurling.

As quick as it was pressed on vinyl Venus Skytrip had already sold out, but they have already repressed it on sun star yellow.

Website – Bandcamp – YouTube – Ripple Music – Cursed Tongue Records

HRH Stoner Vs Doom Festival Videos

Video footage of Gonga, Psychlona, Black Rainbows and Orange Goblin from the HRH Stoner Vs Doom Festival in Sheffield. Rock out.....

Desertfest London 2019 - Day 2

Its only 12 and Camden is heaving already. A load of plant based food in Camden Market thanks to the heavenly Seitan, a rattle through the 2^nd hand record shops, a couple of pints to start the day off and we’re already back in the Electric Ballroom watching Elephant Tree. The last time I saw Elephant Tree in Sheffield it was LOUD. Every time I’ve seen them its loud but last time had my ears ringing for a couple of days. Peter’s low end bass shakes the foundations as always and Jack’s guitar sound mixed with both their vocal harmonies floors me every time. As a 4 piece now everything sounds even a bigger and we are treated to a few new songs from their (hopefully) imminent new record. They know how to work the crowd, even when its 2pm and even this early the Ballrooms sound system has had a complete workout.

The first trip of the day to The Black Heart is to see Boston’s own Worshipper. With a new record “Light in the Wire” dropping, again via Tee Pee Records, they hit you with classic sounding heavy rock. Lots of riffs, twin guitar action and some really catchy hooks. Before this I wasn’t too familiar with what Worshipper had to offer but what I’ve seen here is more than enough to convince me. I’m sure I won’t be the only one after the last 45 minutes.

Staying in The Black Heart, Psychlona hit the stage and they are loving it. “Mojo Rising” dropped last year to critical acclaim and I can see 2019 being a big year from Bradford’s finest. It doesn’t take long for a variety of Yorkshire reprobates in the crowd to start shouting out various Yorkshire based towns they’re from. I probably should have started a Redcar chant, but maybe not! Back to the music, they hit you with a driving blues based stoner rock channelling the likes of Fu Manchu, Clutch and a bit of Kyuss, all with a northern twist. They look right at home in the Ripple family.

Back in the Electric Ballroom Monkey3 look to be having a few issues with their equipment. Concerned faces and a stage full of people keep trying to get the keyboards working but alas the lights go on and the band announce that they are unable to perform thanks to Easyjet (badly) mishandling their keyboards. Holding it up for all to see, one keyboard must have lost half its keys in transit. The band are really pissed and the crowd can see this. We all applaud in gratitude knowing they’ll be back next time.

Stoned Jesus always seem to be touring somewhere around the globe but we don’t see them enough in the UK, hence the large turnout. On a bigger stage they really impressed me last year at the HRH Stoner Vs Doom festival, and it didn’t take them long to slip straight back into that groove. For 3 dudes they make one hell of a noise and the songs have that classic rock structure that keep rolling along.  As the set roles on Igor takes a seat to start the acoustics of the epic anthem “I am the Mountain” and the next 15 minutes show Stoned Jesus at their finest. The song is one of those festival moments that everyone in the room will not forget. Absolutely flawless.

Apart from a trip to the bar, I’m not losing my good space for Kadavar. Berlin’s finest retro rockers are a band that never fail to disappoint. Their performance at the inaugural Desertfest still goes down in legend with the bouncers literally unscrewing the drum heads and unplugging the speakers whilst the band played on. As always the drums are set up at the front of the stage, guitars are plugged in, waste coats go on and away we go. A full hour’s trip going back in time with songs such as “Black Sun”, “Into the Wormhole” and “Die Baby Die” played to perfection. Dragon and Tiger form a ferocious rhythm section that doesn’t let up once, whilst Lupus takes us on several mystical guitar journeys. Roll on a new record.

Saturday’s festivities would end in The Black Heart, starting with Salem’s Bend. The 70’s LA Rockers have been making a name for themselves of late and with the imminent release of “Supercluster” on Ripple Music, what they played tonight showed we are in for a treat. The heavy fuzzy sound shines through and there’s a 70’s rock feel to it, but live I’m also feeling some Hawkwind and some early Priest coming through when the cymbals start crashing and the riffs start cutting in. I like the way their songs dip a toe into a few different genres but don’t stray too far from their original path. I’m looking forward to the LP.

We Hunt Buffalo finish off the night in a very hot rammed full Black Heart. I do though manage to get right next to the stage, and I didn’t move until it was over. We get lots and lots of big heavy rock, fuzzy throughout, psychedelic sometimes but always grooving with big riffs. From the start you can see the band are loving the crowd as much as the crowd are loving the band. There’s quite a bit of “Head Smashed In” being played with a load of requests being shouted by the drunk punters. The band have toured a lot over the last couple of years and it really shows as they’re really tight as a unit. A band that receives many fist pumps!

Two really good days done with tomorrow looking oh so special. I just need to know how to run from The Roundhouse to The Underworld and back in 30 mins to catch Naxatras?!?